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A&E doctors failing to warn women on the Pill of the risk of pregnancy while taking antibiotics

June 18, 1999

Accident and Emergency doctors are failing to warn women on the Pill of the risk of pregnancy associated with taking broad spectrum antibiotics. Two studies in the Journal of Accident and Emergency Medicine, from different parts of the UK, show that women of childbearing age are not being routinely asked about their form of contraception when prescribed commonly used antibiotics.

A small study of 12 doctors in an A&E department in South West England showed that seven doctors gave either no, incorrect, or inadequate advice. GP trainees and women were more clued up; male middle grade doctors were the least well informed on this issue. Of the 21 women between 15 and 50 who had been prescribed broad spectrum antibiotics in the department, only nine had been asked their drug history, and only two had received documented contraceptive advice. The issue of patient information leaflets improved the situation.

A review of the records of 100 women aged between 15 and 39, carried out in Buckinghamshire, showed that only three had written evidence of having been asked about their methods of contraception and given appropriate advice, when prescribed antibiotics.

Data from the Committee on the Safety of Medicines indicates that 136 pregnancies have occurred as a result of taking antibiotics while on the Pill.
This figure may very well be an underestimate of the true numbers, the authors of the second study point out. In the USA, a dentist was successfully sued by a patient on the Pill when she became pregnant after taking a course of antibiotics, for failing to advise her of the potential risks.

All women on the Pill who are prescribed broad spectrum antibiotics should take additional contraceptive precautions for up to seven days after completing the
course, say the authors.

AlphaGalileo Foundation

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